For me, as for most students, college was a huge transition. My living space, schedule, and environment had all changed. College often shows a pattern of more; more expectations, coursework, obligations, commitments, and responsibilities. In many ways it mirrors life after college, as the full schedule never seems to end.

So I continued listening to podcast, where I began to learn how minimalism allows us to remove the clutter in our lives so we can focus on what’s truly important. My curiosity lead me to other great minimalists, like Leo Babauta, Joshua Becker, and Courtney Carver.

As college was filling my schedule with more, I decided to consciously manage my schedule with less of what didn’t matter and more of what did. I’ve learned a lot of lessons from college and minimalism, including these 5 points which made a lasting impact…

1. You don’t have to live like everyone else

You don’t have to live like others. Being able to live with yourself is what’s important. Minimalism helps me live in alignment with my values and beliefs, and that really helped me throughout my time in college and still helps me today.

We have to learn how to say no to what’s not important, so we can say yes to what is. When everyone and everything tries to pull my time and attention in different directions, minimalism helps keep me focused and on track.

2. There is no universal schedule all minimalists follow

Some minimalists enjoy doing very few things with great pleasure, while other minimalists have arranged their life in a way where they’re able to contribute to multiple projects they’re passionate about.

Those who aren’t familiar with minimalism may think minimalists must have an empty schedule all the time, yet that’s far from the truth!

It’s not about the quantity of tasks, but the quality of tasks.

During college, I was able to work part-time, intern for a nonprofit organization that I care about, be a full-time student, and still spend quality time with my family and friends. This was all possible because I knew what was important to me and scheduled my time accordingly.

3. Less clutter allows for more focus

Just as I assessed what things were filling up my time, I assessed what things were filling up my living space.

I washed my laundry before it became a mountain that took over my room. I washed the dishes before they piled up and resembled a game of Jenga. I kept my room tidy so that I could find what I needed when I needed it. If I had to spend time looking for my phone charger or most recent assignment, I couldn’t spend that time doing something I wanted to be doing. Even desktop and app icons were beginning to create unnecessary visual stimulation, so I deleted the ones I didn’t need and stowed the rest away.

I remember when I first started decluttering my life, my friend said, “There’s nothing on your desk? Don’t you use it?” In reality, there was nothing on my desk because I DID use it regularly.

Having a clear desk helped me create a clear mind, and that’s the mindset I needed for whatever I was doing.

5. There is no “one way” to minimalism

Looking for an ultimate guide to becoming a minimalist? We are used to being able to Google anything and get direct answers. But minimalism isn’t that straightforward and can seem to be full of irony. Just take a look at some of the great minimalists I mentioned earlier…

Leo Babauta has six kids. The Minimalists recently launched a physical product. These may seem like they would disqualify them from minimalism, but that’s not how minimalism works.

Minimalism doesn’t have a set standard, it can be crafted to your life as you see fit.

Final Reflection

I learned these lessons during college, but they have proved valuable well beyond college. You don’t graduate from minimalism, but that’s the beauty of it; there is always more to learn about the benefits of living with less.

Andrew Rocha is a student of life who strongly believes that life is full of lessons to be learned on a daily basis. His passion for personal development and success stems from the desire to be happy and make the most out of life.

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